Caring for an Aging Workforce

A perfect storm is brewing in corporate America, according to Dr. Alice Stollenwerk Petrulis, Chief Medical Officer for KePRO. A wave of baby boomers is approaching retirement age, but many plan to keep working.

While still young at heart, these employees aged 50 and older are at risk for developing chronic medical conditions that come with growing older, which means increased costs and lost productivity for employers.

"We’re living longer and working longer. As we age, we’re more prone to developing conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes. Companies will face increased health costs if they aren’t proactive in developing programs to help these workers stay healthy," she said.

According to Dr. Petrulis, a quarter of the current workforce is diabetic and 55 percent is overweight. "These conditions, if not managed, can cause multiple and complex health problems and can be very costly if not controlled."

Proactive prevention

One of the first steps companies can take is to make sure each employee has a primary-care physician or a medical "home."

"I’m always surprised at the number of people who don’t have a doctor and say they just go to an emergency room when they get sick. Every person over the age of 50 should have a primary-care doctor, see the physician at least once a year, and have regular screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies."

Dr. Petrulis also recommended that employers offer health-risk assessments to build meaningful health-management programs that are specific and unique to a company’s employee population.

The most successful programs, she said, allow employees to work together toward a common health goal.

"A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine cited the power of networking and how it can change people’s behaviors toward more healthy lifestyles. Companies can use this powerful motivator to increase participation in health and wellness programs. People are more likely to get involved if they can socialize and share time with their co-workers," she explained.

Another powerful tool is information. "Companies should constantly provide employees with health-related information. Send out e-mail bulletins, post health tips in the cafeteria and let employees know where they can find health support groups. People today are much more conscious of self-managing their health, especially if they are given the tools to do so."

KePRO can help you manage your comprehensive health care programs. To learn how, contact our business development professionals at 1.800.222.077.